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ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND 449-1066

ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND 449-1066. THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE. We start with a clan/tribe known as the Britons. They lived in a time where people owed an allegiance to a lord in return for protection. This was a time of war, movement, and chaos. THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE.

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ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND 449-1066

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  1. ANGLO-SAXON BACKGROUND449-1066

  2. THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE • We start with a clan/tribe known as the Britons • They lived in a time where people owed an allegiance to a lord in return for protection. • This was a time of war, movement, and chaos

  3. THE BRITONS’ EXPERIENCE PRE-ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD: A. 800-600 BC - Britons battle Gaels and Celts (Greek for “Barbarian”) B. 43-410 - Britons battle the Romans ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD: A. 410-449 Britain gets invaded from lots of tribes – Constant Upheaval! a. PICTS – keep pillaging b. SCOTS – Old English “raider,” from Ireland c. 442 – Britains invite SAXONS in alliance but are betrayed for the Scots. d. 449 – more GERMANIC invasions (Jutes, Frisians, Angles, & Saxons) * e. 787 – Viking attacks start = pillage, loot, burn everything!

  4. The Britons get invaded by EVERYONE

  5. POINTS OF INTEREST I. 500 AD – historical King Arthur wins British victory II. 597 - St. Augustine founds Christian monastery • First king of Anglo-Saxon England converted to Christianity! (King Aethelbert I of Kent - Jute) • Gradual Christianization by Roman and Irish missionaries - 7th century with persistent pagan customs as well *( Christianity flourished during the Roman Empire, never left when it fell)

  6. POINTS OF INTEREST IV. 849-899 King Alfred, recognized as king of all England • Revival of learning… oral tradition turns to written language for all V. 1042-1066: Edward the Confessor (last Anglo Saxon king, deeply religious) beat up by William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion at the Battle of Hastings

  7. OLD ENGLISH • NO WRITING: Writing went out of style with collapse of Roman empire. Only the church had a few documents. *Oral tradition / scops 2) Christian missionaries taught and wrote entirely in Latin, Old English was vulgar 3) Language is predominantly: Anglo-Saxon (German), Some Celtic/Gaelic words, Latin (450 words) Old Norse (50 words)

  8. OLD ENGLISH OLD ENGLISH VERBS: Cyssan – cyste – cyssed (kiss) Ridan – rad – ridden (ride) Drincan – dranc – drunken (drink) Sprecan – sprac – sprecen (speak) Fyllan – fylde – fylled (fill) Cnyttan – cnytte – cnytted (knit)

  9. CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM • PAGAN • - Warrior culture • - Loyalty to many gods • Tell stories to teach lessons. • COMITATUS: loyalty to lord, do • anything for him (loyalty rewarded with fame/riches, mead hall), • - Exile worst punishment CHRISTIAN • Spiritual culture - faith in heavens and morality • Loyalty to a God • Bible

  10. PAGAN WORLD • The world is believed to be set up in different dimensions: • Gods (Asgard) above • the underworld (Hel) below • the Earth plane (Midgard)

  11. CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM PAGAN WYRD: You are powerless in life, with no real choice. It is a dangerous world ruled by FATE (predetermined) • You should have the courage to fight/die early. You live a a good life by achieving fame/glory through deeds, riches. CHRISTIAN PROVIDENCE: People follow Christian qualities and obey commandments in hopes of going to a better after life. • You have the free will to live a good life. Suffering you endure will pay off in the glorious afterlife with God.

  12. THINK ABOUT IT… What happens when you die?

  13. THINK ABOUT IT… • How do you PROVE you go to heaven for an afterlife? • How does the church convince so many people of the time to buy into Christianity? Why might it sound appealing?

  14. ANGLO-SAXON RECAP • Warrior Culture: Britons lived in clans that owed allegiance to a lord in return for honor, fame, and gold. (comitatus) • Time of war, chaos, and transition. • Everything is passed on through the oral tradition. • Old English is made up of Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Latin & Old Norse. • Revival of Education • Pagan culture trying to be turned Christian by missionaries and priests. • Pagan views: many gods, WYRD, warrior culture • Christian views: one god, PROVIDENCE, spiritual culture

  15. ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE • All passed down through an oral tradition until the mid 10th century (900s). It was caused by a church reform where monks were in charge of copying manuscripts. 1) RIDDLES: entertainment/education 2) PROSE: • Caedmon: “Hymn of Creation,” oldest vernacular work (Latin) • Bede: “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” (Latin) • Used historians, other books, travelers, never left more than 75 miles!! • “Anglo-Saxon Chronicles”– begin writing down history in Old English so it was accessible to all

  16. Exeter Riddle Answer: A Shield • Wounded by iron, broken by blades • No comfort in herbal healing • handiwork of smiths • Sword slash and death wound day and night

  17. Exeter Riddle Answer: A bow!!! • Wob is my name twisted about • I spit outthe death-blend I swallowed before. • Unwound I will not obey any man;Bound tight, I serve.

  18. LITERATURE: POETRY HEROIC: tales of warriors and battles • Pagan/Warrior culture… FAME/WYRD • Beowulf ELEGAIC: lamenting the death/loss of loved ones,glory, or gold • Christian ideas, spirituality • Happy past / desolate present • “Seafarer” and “Wanderer” *POEMS COME FROM BOOK OF EXETER

  19. POETRY TERMS 1) ORAL TRADITION originally 2) Typically narrative 3) Regular rhythm - Usually 4 strong beats, consistency for memorization and speaking Ex. Now there are no rulers, no emperors • Kenning: metaphorical phrase used to replace a concrete noun (embellished/figurative) EX. Whale’s home = sea Rat’s nest = ? Sea-Steed = ? Brow Star = ?

  20. POETRY TERMS 5) CAESURA: natural pause in a line of poetry Ex. With gift in the mead-hall and comfort for grief • ALLITERATION: repetition of sounds in a sequence of words (*Tongue twisters: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers)

  21. POETRY TERMS • PARAPHRASE: break down lengthy portions of text to find strictly meaning, put in your own words in a shorter manner Advantage: understand meaning Disadvantage: time consuming

  22. Exeter Riddle Answer: An onion! • I harm no citizen except my slayer • I am shaggy below. • Her eye will be wet. • wonderful help to women

  23. Exeter Riddle Answer: An oyster!!! • Suckled by the sea, • sheltered near shore • Footless • relish me raw

  24. HERO • What does our generation/world define a hero as today? What are his/her characteristics? Who are examples of a hero?

  25. HERO • DEFINITION: a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. • NEED FOR A HERO: • Changes with time depending on the culture/climate • We often look at major societal problems to create or embellish who we should look up to

  26. HEROES vs. villains How has the idea of a hero changed over time? Consider who he/she fought and what they stood for? • ANCIENT GREEK & ANGLO-SAXON: • Brave warriors fought for their country and lord/king against outside • Gladiator, 300, William Wallace • RENAISSANCE: • Knights of the Round Table fought against people who didn’t follow the law and to protect the king or ladies. • Robin Hood fought against the tyrants of the world. • WWII:

  27. HEROES vs. villains How has the idea of a hero changed over time? Consider who he/she fought and what they stood for? • 1930s - • Creation of Batman, Superman, and early Marvel Comics • 1960s: • TODAY:

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